According to a 2022 survey by global educational technology firm Instructure, 87% of students in the Philippines want to have more technology and robotics-based subjects taught in their in-person classes. That was just one of many reports, both local and global, that indicate an increasing demand for technology and robotics education in the country.
Earlier this year, the Department of Information and Communications Technology expressed its desire to have robotics, AI, and computer programming in the elementary school curriculum, with Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Dy highlighting the need to teach technology and increase multimedia literacy in children as young as 9 years old.
To learn more about how new technology is being introduced to Filipino learners and educators, GMI POST sat down with FELTA Multi-Media Inc. President and CEO Mylene Abiva.
“For 57 years, our battle cry has been to upgrade the quality of education in the Philippines by equipping Filipino students and educators with modern and top-quality teaching materials,” said Abiva, who added FELTA was leveraging various ed-tech platforms and partnerships to ensure no Filipino student is left behind in the digital age.
“Since the ‘90s, we have had a strong partnership with Intel wherein we help students and teachers get access to their technology. At the time, we were the first to import their technology to the Philippines. Today, we are now an accredited Intel OEM (original equipment manufacturer), which means we manufacture shockproof and water-resistant laptops for the education space,” she also said.
Thanks to its collaboration with Intel, according to Abiva, FELTA was able to provide tablets, computers and laptops to many students and educators during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The president and CEO also shared that FELTA became an accredited global training partner of Microsoft in 2013, which allows it to use Microsoft software and products when training educators on how to use their technology and improve the learning experience for students.
“Aside from being a global training partner for Microsoft, we have also started introducing AI and robotics to our partners. We imported robots from LEGO Education in Denmark. We also have robots from Chinese Taipei and robots from the USA called Gearbox,” said Abiva, who was designated the first and only ambassador of the 66-member World Robot Olympiad in 2018.
As WRO’s official spokesperson, Abiva plans to continue raising awareness and advocating for educational robotics programs.
Abiva said education is a right of every child and wants to promote the mindset that education and fun go hand-in-hand. FELTA has shown that by adapting the newest technology, it can create engaging solutions that will improve Philippine education.
